Allianz Trade has relocated its regional operation to a new office at DIFC Square as the trade credit insurer expands its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The move places Allianz Trade Middle East Limited, known as ATME Ltd., in Tower 1 of the recently developed office complex within the Dubai International Financial Centre.
The new premises cover approximately 5,200 square feet and will support more than 70 employees working across ATME Ltd. and its designated local insurance partners. The office has been designed as a paperless workplace.
A Regional Insurance-Management Structure
ATME Ltd. is incorporated in DIFC as a private company limited by shares and is licensed by the Dubai Financial Services Authority to conduct insurance-management activities. The DFSA is the independent authority responsible for regulating financial services conducted in or from DIFC.
The entity does not issue trade credit insurance policies directly to customers in the region. Instead, ATME Ltd. manages reinsurance arrangements on behalf of Euler Hermes Italy and works with locally licensed insurers that issue policies in their respective markets. Allianz Trade is the brand used for services provided by Euler Hermes, which is part of Germany-based Allianz Group.
Under this structure, local insurers serve as the policy-issuing companies, while Euler Hermes provides reinsurance support for selected arrangements. ATME Ltd. handles functions including underwriting, administration and servicing on behalf of Euler Hermes. The setup allows the group to operate across markets with different licensing requirements without presenting its DIFC entity as the direct insurer.
Trade Credit Risk Across the Region
Trade credit insurance protects a business against the risk that a commercial customer will fail to pay an invoice because of insolvency, prolonged default or certain political events. Its role differs from ordinary property or consumer insurance because the insured asset is generally a company’s accounts receivable, the money owed by customers for goods or services supplied on credit.
Companies trading across borders can face a longer chain of payment and counterparty risks. A supplier may deliver goods weeks or months before receiving payment, while the buyer’s ability to pay can be affected by economic weakness, political disruption or problems within its own customer base. Insurers assess those exposures and, subject to policy terms and limits, compensate covered suppliers when an insured debt is not paid.
Allianz Trade’s relocation comes as DIFC reports wider growth across its financial-services ecosystem. The center had 10,018 active registered companies at the end of the first half of 2026, after adding 2,318 active companies during the six-month period.
Insurance and reinsurance form part of the financial infrastructure supporting cross-border commerce. Trade credit coverage helps businesses manage the risk of customers failing to pay invoices, while reinsurance allows insurers to share portions of the risks they assume. These arrangements can reduce the concentration of potential losses within a single company.
Officials Outline the New Office’s Regional Role
Dario Locatelli, senior executive officer of ATME Ltd., said: “Our new office at DIFC Square represents an important milestone in Allianz Trade’s continued growth in the GCC. More than a new workspace, it reflects the progress of our business, our continued investment in the region and our long-term ambitions. Establishing our new home within one of the world’s leading International Financial Centres further reinforces the strategic importance of the GCC to Allianz Trade. As we continue to grow, this new office reflects how we are evolving alongside the region, supporting greater collaboration, more sustainable and efficient ways of working, and our continued commitment to supporting businesses across the GCC.”
Salmaan Jaffery, Chief Business Development Officer, DIFC Authority, added: “"We congratulate Allianz Trade Middle East Limited on the opening of its new office at DIFC Square, marking an important step in expanding its trade credit insurance and risk management platform in the region. Allianz Trade’s decision to grow its DFSA regulated presence within DIFC reflects the strength of its global operating model and DIFC’s role as a hub for internationally regulated insurance, reinsurance and risk intelligence firms. Its expertise in supporting cross border trade, managing credit risk and partnering with regional insurers further strengthens DIFC’s insurance ecosystem, supporting businesses operating across the GCC and beyond.”
Operationally, the move gives ATME Ltd. a larger base from which to administer its existing reinsurance relationships and coordinate with local policy issuers.
